Let's Talk About Birds: Owls are masters of the hunt
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A Eurasian Eagle Owl (like the one owned by Draco Malfoy in the Harry Potter films) in flight at the National Aviary. Eagle Owls are one of the largest species of owls in the world.
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This is one of a series presented by the National Aviary, America's bird zoo. The National Aviary works to inspire a respect for nature through an appreciation of birds.
As the Harry Potter films come to their conclusion, the owls of the series have gained their own fan base, with many Muggles longing for a Great Snowy Owl like Harry's Hedwig, or a formidable Eurasian Eagle Owl like the one owned by Draco Malfoy.
Contrary to their portrayal in the books and films, however, owls do not make good pets, and in fact it is illegal to keep an owl as a pet.
What they are good at is hunting.
Owls have soft fringes on the edges of their flight feathers that make it possible for them to fly without making a sound, and their asymmetrical ears give them pin-point accuracy when listening for and locking on to a prey target. Add to that their outstanding night vision and powerful talons, and you have one remarkably effective raptor.
Owls are noted for their large eyes, which take up so much head room, there is little space for eye muscles. An owl must turn its head, rather than its eyes, and is able to swivel its head nearly three-quarters the way around.
An owl's eyes also take up brain space, which means the saying "wise old owl" is actually not very accurate. Owls rely on instinct, rather than problem solving, to hunt their daily meal.
Seven species of owls can be seen in western Pennsylvania, including the Eastern Screech Owl, Barred Owl, Barn Owl, Short- and Long-eared Owls, and the Northern Saw-whet Owl. Great Horned Owls, which can be spotted in the night skies around Pittsburgh, are known as "tigers of the night" because they eat a wide range of prey including rabbits, rats, skunks, snakes and birds.
You can see Eurasian Eagle Owls, like the one owned by Draco Malfoy, in the National Aviary's free-flight bird show "Wings!" More information at www.aviary.org.
First Published July 27, 2011 12:00 am
